Volcano Villarrica erupts in southern Chile, villages evacuated

Chile's Villarrica volcano gives a spectacular display of lava as it erupts in the early morning hours, prompting several thousand to evacuate. Mana Rabiee reports.

▲ Hide Transcript

▶ View Transcript

It was a spectacular display... volcano Villarica in southern Chile erupting in the early morning hours of Tuesday.
The eruption sent ash and lava high up into the sky, and forced the evacuation of nearby communities.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNIDENTIFIED RESIDENT SAYING:
"There was an explosion. We heard a very intense noise that was constant. We went outside to see what was happening because we were scared. It had been cloudy all day. It was bright orange, shooting at least up to three kilometers approximately."
The volcano is one of South America's most active and last erupted in 2000.
A major lava flow isn't expected, but close to 4,000 people are now out of their homes as a precaution.
President Michelle Bachelet says she's traveling immediately to the affected region.